Bakery chain Greggs has warned that scorching UK summer temperatures are hitting sales as fewer customers are venturing out for hot food.
The company said footfall dropped significantly as the country sweltered in blistering heat.
While like-for-like sales climbed 2.6% overall in the six months to June 28, the chain said growth had slowed in June as "high temperatures impacted consumer purchasing patterns".
"Like-for-like sales in June were impacted as very high temperatures affected the UK, increasing demand for cold drinks but reducing our overall footfall," it added.
Profits warning issued
Greggs said it now expects annual operating profits could be "modestly" lower year on year.
The warning comes as the UK experiences its most intense heatwave so far this year, with temperatures soaring since late June.
The Met Office confirmed that 34.7C was recorded at St James's Park in central London on Tuesday.
Greggs said half-year results due on July 29 are set to show lower operating profits for the first six months of the year as it came up against strong trading from a year earlier.
"Whilst acknowledging that comparative like-for-like sales are less demanding in the second half of the year, in light of the current trading conditions the board now anticipates that the full-year operating profit could be modestly below that achieved in 2024," the group said.
(PA/London) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
